Diagnosis to now

Friday, May 23, 2014

Asbestos campaigner dies in Queensland

Raymond Colbert worked tirelessly for asbestos disease sufferers.

Leading asbestos safety advocate Raymond Colbert has passed away of asbestos disease aged 67.
Mr Colbert worked tirelessly on behalf of fellow disease
sufferers for many years as secretary of the Asbestos Related Disease
Support Society Queensland.
Among his greatest achievements was “Ray’s Ride”, where Mr
Colbert travelled from Toowoomba to Brisbane in his motorised wheelchair
to raise awareness of asbestos diseases mesothelioma and asbestosis and
medical research funds.
The journey took Mr Colbert through the flood-affected Ipswich and Lockyer Valley regions in 2011.
"Ray, who was wheelchair bound and on oxygen 24 hours a day,
took five days to complete the ride, battling the November heat and
plenty of flies," said Andrew Ramsay, the asbestos society’s vice
president.
"He travelled along many rough roads through the towns of Grantham, Gatton, Laidley, Ipswich, and ended ... in Brisbane.
"His journey also raised $60,000 in much needed donations to support Queensland sufferers of asbestos diseases."
Mr Colbert was exposed to asbestos fibres while working for the Australian navy in his youth.
"I served in the engine rooms of the Royal Australian Navy
aircraft carriers HMAS Melbourne and Sydney for nine years," he once
told The Queensland Times.
"When the planes would land on the Melbourne it would shake and asbestos fibres would fall, just like snow coming down.
"If you were going to be contaminated with it [asbestos] that was a good place to get it."
Ray is survived by his wife Helen, sons Darrel, Carl and Christopher, and grandchildren Lucinda, Matthew and Emily.

Ray did so much in Queensland with support and raising awareness - thank you Ray - may you be at peace. Your fight will continue. Deepest sympathy to Helen and family xx